Mission #204: Decode the Story and Save the Waters!

Top Secret Assignment:

Attention, Defender-in-Training!

The murky waters are on the move - and only YOU can help Chito-Man crack the case.

Your Mission Objectives:

First, read the classified case file:
"Chito-Man and the Mystery of the Murky Waters"
It holds ALL the knowledge you’ll need for this operation. Every stormwater science tool, trick, and term is hidden in Chito-Man’s story.

Next, decode the clues:
The crossword puzzle you are about to face is built from the story’s secrets. Each clue describes a science concept Chito-Man used to solve the mystery.

Finally, complete the crossword to prove you’re ready for Defender duty!
Remember: Real Defenders use their smarts and their heart to protect our waters!

Chito-Man and the Mystery of the Murky Waters

One sunny morning at Stormwater Defenders Headquarters, Chito-Man was running tests on a sample of runoff from a nearby city. He tapped on the screen of his enhanced lab system, frowning.

“Something’s not right,” he muttered. “The water’s full of particles way too small for a regular filter to catch.”

He adjusted the settings to measure particle size — they were so tiny, they measured just a nanogram or less! No wonder the water still looked cloudy even after basic treatment.

Chito-Man thought back to the basics. Tiny pollutants floating around in water are called dissolved pollutants. Unlike bigger chunks that can be strained out, these invisible troublemakers need more specialized science to capture.

Grabbing a container off the shelf, Chito-Man smiled.

“This is where polymers like mine come in,” he said proudly.

Polymers are large molecules made of repeating units, and Chito-Man’s most famous creation —Chitrex made with Chitosan — was one of the best for grabbing tiny pollutants! Derived from the biopolymer in crab shells, Chitosan worked as a flocculant, causing microscopic particles to clump together into bigger pieces that could finally settle or be filtered out.

"But clumping isn't enough," Chito-Man reminded himself.

He reached for different types of media: sands, activated carbon, and special fabrics designed to trap pollutants once they were stuck together.

“Media makes the magic happen,” Chito-Man said with a grin. "They trap the crabby goodness and pull it out of the water!"

Just then, Sergeant Stormwater radioed in:
"Chito-Man, what’s the update on the treatability of the runoff?"

Chito-Man replied, “Making progress! But this batch might need a little extra help. The conductivity is too low — not enough salts dissolved to help the treatment stick.”

Conductivity measures how well water carries electricity — the more salts and minerals, the more ionic attraction there is! He knew some pollutants carry a negative charge and some carry a positive charge, so he chose additives of an opposite polarity to bind them up. Opposites attract — just like magnets! Chito-Man knew he could adjust conductivity safely with a small dose of baking soda if needed.

He also considered using alum, a tried-and-true chemical that helps remove fine particles by forcing them to clump even faster. He also knows, in combination, these polymers create chelation that binds the dissolved metals in the water. Alum with Chitrex worked great with pH and conductivity were dialed in just right.

Finally, he activated the small dose pump to circulate the additives through the system, watching as the once-murky water began to clear.

"Another win for stormwater science!" Chito-Man said, flashing a thumbs-up to the lab camera.

As the treatment system pumped the water through the filters, clean water flowed into the holding tank, Chito-Man grinned.

“Remember,” he said to the imaginary audience, “Stormwater treatment isn’t just about big filters and flashy tech — it’s smart chemistry, teamwork, and a little bit of crabby genius too!”